Early Movies (1800s)
The first movies made of the 1800s
Updated to include 1887 to 1895
Some are missing as I couldn’t find them on IMDb.
Film not considered a movie is generally not included.
Only notable movies are listed for now but may be updated later to include more.
Also, I am still new to researching the movies so I may have missed some. I will add missing movies as I find them which will result in disorganization by date added but if you list them by release date that solves the problem.
Updated to include 1887 to 1895
Some are missing as I couldn’t find them on IMDb.
Film not considered a movie is generally not included.
Only notable movies are listed for now but may be updated later to include more.
Also, I am still new to researching the movies so I may have missed some. I will add missing movies as I find them which will result in disorganization by date added but if you list them by release date that solves the problem.
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- DirectorLouis Aimé Augustin Le PrinceA frame sequence featuring a man walking around a corner.
- DirectorLouis Aimé Augustin Le PrinceA shot of people walking on The Leeds Bridge.
- DirectorOttomar AnschützA horse with rider jumping over an obstacle
- DirectorWilliam Carr CroftsWordsworth DonisthorpeA shot of Trafalgar Square.
- DirectorÉtienne-Jules MareyShot of the flight of a fly.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsGiuseppe Sacco AlbaneseOne of W.K.L. Dickson's laboratory workers horses around for the camera.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsGiuseppe Sacco AlbaneseIn an experiment that follows up on the results of 'Monkeyshines, No. 1', an Edison company worker again moves around in front of the motion picture camera.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsGiuseppe Sacco AlbaneseAn Edison company worker makes large gestures in front of a Kinetoscope to test the new camera system.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsJames C. Duncan
- DirectorWilliam Friese-GreeneLost film from 1890, directed by William Friese-Greene.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsJames C. DuncanShort, experimental film depicting James C. Duncan smoking a pipe.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsWilliam K.L. DicksonThe very first American film shown to public audiences and the press. It depicts William K.L. Dickson taking off his hat and greeting the audience.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseShort film featuring two monkeys fighting.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonAn athlete swings Indian clubs.
- DirectorGeorges DemenÿStarsGeorges DemenÿMedium close-up of a man saying "Je vous aime".
- DirectorÉtienne-Jules MareyIn this early film experiment a wave crashes against a jagged rock.
- DirectorÉtienne-Jules MareyShot of two people fencing.
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudLost short film consisting of 300 painted images. It shows a clown entering a circus ring and greeting the audience before he starts to perform tricks with three dogs. The dogs jump through hoops, walk on a ball and jump over a wand.
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudOne night, Arlequin come to see his lover Colombine. But then Pierrot knocks at the door and Colombine and Arlequin hide. Pierrot starts singing but Arlequin scares him and the poor man goes away.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsKing Edward VIIThis short documentary is a mini-biography of Edward VII, then Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne of England. Because his mother, Queen Victoria, reigned for such an unusually long period, he would not receive the crown until her death.
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudLost 1892 French short animated film directed by Émile Reynaud about a wanderer who orders a good beer ("Un bon bock") and meets a traveler who also orders a beer. They enter an argument because a kitchen boy steals their beers.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseTwo men wearing boxing gloves prepare to spar in the Edison Company studio.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonExperimental film to test the new kinetoscope which depicts two men practicing fencing.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonLost film directed by William K.L. Dickson. Presented by Edison Manufacturing Company.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonA lost film, directed by William K.L. Dickson about two men wrestling.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsCharles KayserJohn OttThree men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsWilliam K.L. DicksonOne of the pictures to be seen in the machine, for example, was that of a blacksmith shop in which two men were working, one shoeing a horse, the other heating iron at the forge. One would be seen to drive the nail into the shoe of the horse's hoof, to change his position and every movement needed in the work was clearly shown as if the object was in real (life). In fact, the whole routine of the two men's labour and their movements for the day was presented to the view of the observer.
- DirectorÉtienne-Jules MareyRabbits jump, play and interact with each other in multiple different sequences.
- DirectorLouis Aimé Augustin Le PrinceStarsAdolphe Le PrinceA very brief film of a man playing the accordion.
- DirectorBirt Acres
- DirectorBirt Acres
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudPre-cinematograph colour animation of a woman and man at the beach.
- DirectorÉmile Reynaud
- DirectorÉtienne-Jules Marey
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsEugen Sandow
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsEugen Sandow
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsAlciede Capitaine
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsGeorge Layman
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsNajidSaleem Nassar
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLouise BlanchardHelen Englehart
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLouise BlanchardHelen Englehart
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsIsabelle Coe
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsGeorge W. SteeleGeorge TopackLively political debate, representing [Grover] Cleveland and [Benjamin] Harrison.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJohn R. Abell
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsRosa FranceFrank LawtonEtta WilliamsonA lively, eccentric dance by Frank Lawton, Etta Williamson and Rosa France of Charles Hale Hoyt's "Milk White Flag". Atttractive costumes.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsRosa
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLucy Murray
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsMadge CrosslandMay LucasLucy MurrayA very fascinating dance by three of the London "Gaiety Girls". Full of grace and abandon. Colouring adds greatly to the charm of the picture.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsRuth St. Denis"Said to be the Champion High Kicker of the World."
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsAnnabelle MooreAnnabelle Moore performs her Sun Dance.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsFred Ott
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsArmand D'Ary"French danseuse and chanteuse. Pantomine, song, etc."
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonShowing 34 Persons in Costume. The largest number ever shown as one subject in the Kinetoscope.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseCustomer gets a lightning-fast shave.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsAnnabelle MooreAnnabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonAn athlete does a backwards somersault.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam Heise"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison Catalog
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsMay Lucas
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsHenry Welton"Wrestles with his trainer."
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsFred W. BoardmanWilliam CushingAd DorschA scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns around and directs the musicians as they take up their own positions.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsPhil DoretoRobettaThe pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsJames J. CorbettPeter CourtneyJames J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsThe Sarashe SistersA charming representation of the Mikado dance by three beautiful Japanese ladies in full costume. Very effective when colored. (from the Edison Catalog)
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsFrancis E. ButlerAnnie OakleyAnnie Oakley, the 'Little Miss Sure Shot' of the 'Wild West' gives an exhibition of rifle shooting at glass balls and clay pigeons in a film from the Edison Catalog.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJohn SlavinCharles F. Walton
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsToyou Kichi
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLucy the DogIvan Tschernoff
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsSheik Hadji Tahar
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsSaleem Nassar
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsFrank HammittLee MartinSunfishA fine exhibition of horsemanship by Lee Martin, a genuine cowboy. This particular broncho is an unusually wicked one. (from Edison Films)
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLuis MartinettiLuis Martinetti, a contortionist suspended from acrobatic flying rings, contorts himself for about thirty seconds. This is one of the first films made for Edison's kinetoscopes.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJohn SlavinCharles F. Walton
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsFrank HammittLee MartinMen return at a station from an exhibition.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsPedro EsquivelDionecio GonzalesTwo Mexican men duel with knives.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsVicente OropezaChampion Lasso Thrower Vicente Oropeza (aka. Vincente Ore Passo/Bisento Orapeso/Vincenti Orapazza) shows his skills.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsHadj CheriffHadj Cheriff, a performer known for a variety of unusual abilities, demonstrates part of his act in the Edison studio.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsThe Glenroy BrothersThomas GlenroyWilliam GlrenroyThe Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete".
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJoe RastusDenny TolliverWalter WilkinsA scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsThe Glenroy BrothersThe Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete", which depicts a boxer with a classic style trying to contend with an opponent who uses a very unorthodox approach.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsEugene HornbackerMurphyA referee and five fans (including a waiter in his apron) look on as two young men box. The dark-haired, slightly taller boxer throws a right and the light-haired smaller one goes down; but he's up before the referee starts counting. After the knockdown, the boxers mostly hit each other's gloves. The fans, at least one of whom is sitting inside the ring, show no animation. They're all men, dressed in a range of late 19th-century garb.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsLucy the DogIvan Tschernoff
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseA group of Sioux Indians from Buffalo Bill's Wild West exhibition demonstrates a dance called a "ghost dance".
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsHair CoatParts His HairLast HorseThree Sioux Indians perform a 'buffalo dance', while two others use drums to supply a rhythm. The three dancers move around in a circle as they perform the various actions that are part of the dance.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJohn SlavinCharles F. Walton
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsFlorence EwerLenora EwerMildred EwerThree beautiful girls La Regloncita, La Graciosa and La Preciosa in a charming dance.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsWilliam K.L. DicksonThe earliest extant sound film. William K.L. Dickson stands in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder. As he plays a violin, two men dance in the foreground. This film was made to demonstrate a new Thomas Edison machine, the Kinetophone. These machines were Kinetoscope peepshow viewers mated with Thomas Edison wax cylinder phonographs. But the Kinetophone never caught on and this film was never released. The film still exists, but the phonograph soundtrack has been lost.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJohn SlavinCharles F. Walton
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsHadj Lessik
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJuan A. Caicedo
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJuan A. Caicedo"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)